is reached on the fiscal cliff. if nothing is worked out, there's a two-year 15% pay cut for both the president and capitol hill lawmakers. so far, more than 10,000 people are signed on board for that. time now for the big three and the topics, face-to-face history in the makings and the must read. we bring in the panel. aaron, msnbc contributor robert tray numb and adviser to the hillary clinton and al gore campaigns, doug. doug, i want to start with you. the first topic is face-to-face. what can be accomplished in the one-on-one negotiations between president obama and speaker boehner when you consider friday speaker boehner said the negotiations are nowhere? >> the pressure really is on the speaking and the house republicans. it's quite clear in the polls and everybody knows they are the ones standing in the way of tax relief for middle class working people just because they want to hold that hostage to tax cuts for the 2% richest people. he could, in that meeting, meet the president half way right off the block.